Improvement in hoof-spreaders



``T. ARMSTMNG`` Hoof-Spread-ers.

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UNITED S'rA'rEs FATF-Lanierh THOMAS ARMSTRONG, OF HAMILTON, CANADA.

IMPRovEMENT |N HooF-'sPREADERe Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,689, dated March 11, 1873.

To aliwhom t't may concern:

' Be it known that I, THoMAsARMsrRoNG,

of. the city of Hamilton, in the county ,of Wentworth, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented a new and useful Instrument for the use of Veterinary Surgeons and others, for the purpose of restoring and curing what is known as the contracted foot in horses 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawin g forming part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to overcome the dificulties experienced in the use of those instruments formerly used for effecting the same object in its being more easily applied, and in its accomplishing a better purpose.

In the accompanying drawing thc'same letters of reference indica-te the same parts.

Figure l is a view of the under side or sole of a horseis foot, and is marked A. lt is shown, in this view, with a shoe, which is marked S. The shoer is supposed to be transparent in order to show the principal parts underit which it may be necessary to refer to in the description; a a. aI being the horny crust of the foot; b b, the bars; c c, the heels; t' i, the bulbs ot' the heels. The spreader B is shown, in this view, attached directly under the shoe and pressing against the heel on each side, and spreadin g the hoof.

Fig. 2 is alsoa view of the same parts vof the foot as Fig. 1, with the spreader B in this case attached obliquely on the foot, one of the ends bearing on lthe heel and the other end considerably further in toward the bar b, in which position it may frequentlyl require to be used. This view shows the adaptability of the spreadcr B to be used inyevery necessary position. It will be observed that in this oblique position one side is being spread o'ut without at the same time spreadin g the other sideto the same extent.

to be spreading both sides equally. Same 'in Fig. 1.

Fig. et is an edge View of the spreader B.

This invention consists of two levers, b' 11',

jointed upon a middle bar, c', with variable centers for the enlargement or contraction of the instrument; a tightening-screw, d 5 spiral spring e; (this spiral spring may either be used or notin some cases it may be better without it;) f, a grooved washer, with guidesv to keep the grooves 'in position for the corresponding grooves on curved ends of levers b' b'. g is a nut with handle for operating the screw h. h are two thumb-screws, which re used as centers for the levers b' b'. .The instrument is made nearly all of cast-steel.

The advantages of this spreader over the tongs used formerly for this purpose are that it can be used in various positions, as shown on the drawing, where are also shown both 'the manner of applying and the parts where it is applied, so that any ordinary shoer of horises v could manipulate the same. Two or three shoeings with the foot prepared by this spread'- er, and with the other necessary treatment known to those skilled in veterinary practice,

are frequently sufiicient to restore the foot to w its natural and healthy condition.

Having th us explained my invention, I claim The combination and arrangement ofx the levers b' b, middle bar c', tightening-screw d, spiral spring e, grooved washerf, handle-nut g, and thumb-screws h h, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

Hamilton, 26th October, 1872.

THOS. ARMSTRONG.

Witnesses:

TnoMAs HILL, WILLIAM GILL.

N'r OFFICE. 

